Clematis plant named ‘VIVA POLONIA’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Clematis  hybrid named ‘VIVA POLONIA’ is disclosed, characterized by extremely floriferous, medium deep magenta colored flowers with distinctive white centers and tepal bases. Plants have a long blooming period and compact growth. The new cultivar is a  Clematis  typically suited for ornamental container and landscape use.

Latin name of the genus and species: Clematis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘VIVA POLONIA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Clematis cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Szczepan Marczynski, in Pruszkow, Poland. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new compact Clematis varieties with novel or new colors. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during 2004.

The seed parent is the unpatented variety, Clematis ‘Matka Siedliska’. The pollen parent is the unpatented variety, Clematis ‘Warszawska Nike’. The new variety was identified as a potentially interesting selection in 2006, at a greenhouse in Pruszkow, Poland.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘VIVA POLONIA’ by vegetative tip cuttings was first performed during 2007, at a greenhouse in Pruszkow, Poland. Subsequent propagation has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in 8 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘VIVA POLONIA’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘VIVA POLONIA.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘VIVA POLONIA’ as a new and distinct Clematis cultivar:

-   -   1. Extremely floriferous plants, with plants covered in flowers         at maturity.     -   2. Medium sized flowers     -   3. Free flowering habit.     -   4. Compact plant growth, reaching 1.5 to 2 meters tall.     -   5. Long blooming period.     -   6. Flowers in a deep magenta red/claret color with attractive         white shading and white tepal base.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘VIVA POLONIA’ are similar to plants of the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘VIVA POLONIA’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Flowers are a deep red magenta color with white shading and         white tepal base. The seed parent has white flowers with pink         shading.     -   2. Single flower. The seed parent is single flower on new growth         and double flower on previous year's growth.     -   3. Smaller flowers than seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘VIVA POLONIA’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘VIVA POLONIA’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Flowers in a deep red magenta color with white shading and         white base. The pollen parent has solid purple-violet flowers.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘VIVA POLONIA’ can be compared to the known commercial variety Clematis hybrid ‘Solidarnosc’, unpatented. The Clematis varieties have similar flower color and produce similar amounts of tepals. ‘VIVA POLONIA’ differs from ‘Solidarnosc’ in the following:

-   -   1. Flowers in a deep magenta red/claret color with white shading         and white tepal base. The comparator has solid red flowers with         occasional faint, light pink streaking.     -   2. Ovate tepals. The comparator has elliptic shaped tepals.     -   3. More floriferous than comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘VIVA POLONIA’ can be compared to the known commercial variety Clematis ‘Sweet Summer Love’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,044. The Clematis varieties have similar flower color and produce similar amounts of tepals. ‘VIVA POLONIA’ differs from the comparator in the following:

-   -   1. Six to eight tepals. The comparator has 4 tepals     -   2. Larger flower size.     -   3. Flower color is near RHS Red-purple 71A. The comparator         flower color is near RHS Red-purple 61A.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color typical flowers and foliage of ‘VIVA POLONIA’ grown outdoors in Pruszkow, Poland. This plant is approximately 3 years old, grown outdoors.

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 1995, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘VIVA POLONIA’ plants grown outdoors in Pruszkow, Poland. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 15° C. to 18° C. at night to 18° C. to 27° C. during the day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Clematis hybrid ‘VIVA POLONIA’. -   Age of the plant described: Approximately 3 years old.

PROPAGATION

-   Typical method: Stem cuttings. -   Time to initiate rooting: Approximately 10 days at 18-24° C. -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet: 20-30 days at 18-24° C. -   Root description: Moderate density, moderate branching, and medium     thickness, fleshy in texture. -   Root color: Near RHS Grey-orange 163A and 163B, both colors present     individually, and blended together. -   Root diameter: 100-150 CM.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Perennial climbing vine. -   Height: Approximately 150 to 200 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 150-200 cm. -   Crop time to flower: 1-2 years. -   Growth rate: 150-200 cm per year. -   Branching characteristics: Opposite facing, basal branching. -   Length of stem: Basal; 150-200 cm. side Branches 45-55 cm. -   Diameter of stem: Approximately 0.2 to 0.4 cm. -   Stem color: Young, near RHS Yellow-green 144A, sunny side slightly     pinkish near RHS Red-purple 70A. Mature, near RHS Greyed-orange     175A. -   Lateral stem texture: Ribbed. -   Number of lateral branches: Basal branches; 12, side branches: 8. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: 20 to 30. -   Internode length: On basal 10-11 cm, on side branches 5-7 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, single and ternate.         -   Quantity of leaflets per leaf.—1-3.         -   Overall leaf length.—Average 10-20 cm.         -   Overall leaf diameter.—Average 3-15 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Heart shaped, entire some 2 and 3 lobed.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of both surfaces.—Glabrous, matte.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near a mixture of RHS             Yellow-green 144B and 144C. Young foliage under side: Near             RHS Yellow-green 144B. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS             Yellow-green 147A. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS             Yellow-green 147B.         -   Venation.—Type: Palmate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Yellow-green 144A. Venation color under side: Near RHS             Yellow-green 146C. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—Average range 4-5 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—Upper: Near RHS Red-purple 59A. Lower: Near RHS             Yellow-green 144C.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period:     -   -   Natural season.—Late Spring to Summer. June through July             free flowering abundantly. September a second flowering             occurs, with less flowers. -   Flower type: Single, rotate flower with tepals overlapping.     Flowering occurring on both previous year's growth and current     year's growth. -   Flower aspect: Upward or outward facing. -   Rate of flower opening: Approximately 1-2 days from bud to fully     opened flower. -   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 10-14 days, after fully     opened. Partly self-cleaning. -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem: 4-12. -   Quantity of flowers buds per lateral stem: 20-40. -   Quantity of flowers per plants: About 350. -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—Average 12-15 cm.         -   Depth.—Average 7.0 cm. -   Calyx shape: Outspread and rotate. -   Tepal:     -   -   Tepal shape.—Ovate.         -   Number of tepals.—6-8.         -   Texture.—Velvety, upper and lower surfaces.         -   Tepal appearance.—Velvety, somewhat matte.         -   Tepal arrangement.—Rotate, partly overlapping.         -   Tepal margin.—Entire, undulate.         -   Tepal tip.—Apiculate.         -   Tepal base.—Cuneate.         -   Tepal length.—6.0-7.5 cm.         -   Tepal width.—3.0-4.5 cm. -   Color:     -   -   Tepals: When opening.—Upper surface: Near RHS Red-purple 71A             with center streaks near White N155A. Center streak is             strong at base, fading until apex. Little or no white streak             at apex. Lower surface: Near RHS Red-purple 70A on margins             (edges), 70C in central part with shading near White N155A,             ribs 70A, Yellow-green 144C between ribs.         -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: Near RHS Red-purple 71A with             White N155A center and base. Stronger white streak than             immature flowers. White streak is very strong at base,             becoming lighter towards apex. Lower surface: Near RHS             Red-purple 70A on margins (edges), 70C in central part with             shades of White N155A, ribs 70A, Yellow-green 144C between             ribs. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Narrow ovate.         -   Length.—Approximately 4-6 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 1-2 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Green 137D with narrow stripes of Red-purple             61A. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—Average range 7-8.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Strength.—Stiff.         -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple 187A. -   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—Average 60-80 per flower.         -   Anther length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Anther color.—Near RHS Red-purple 59A.         -   Anther shape.—Oblong.         -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Filament color.—Near RHS Yellow 4D.         -   Pollen quantity.—Medium.         -   Pollen color.—Near RHS Grey-green 188C. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—60-70.         -   Length.—Approximately 1-1.2 cm.         -   Style length.—Approximely 0.5 cm.         -   Style color.—Near RHS Yellow-green 144C.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Rounded. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 150B.         -   Ovary color.—Near RHS Yellow-green 150B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds:     -   -   Quantity of seeds.—40-50.         -   Seed length.—2-2.5 cm.         -   Seed diameter.—0.3-0.4 cm.         -   Seed color.—Immature: Near RHS Yellow-green 145A. Mature:             Between Near RHS Greyed-orange 164A-166B. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     normal diseases and pests of Clematis has been observed. -   Lowest temperature tolerant to: USDA Zones 4 through 9. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Clematis hybrid plant named ‘VIVA POLONIA’ as herein illustrated and described. 